Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412300099
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS BANKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
2. Spend quality time with kids.
3. Eat less junk food.
Ooops. I forgot for a moment if I was writing New Year's resolutions or Out & About!
4. Eat more brain food.
If you're looking back at '94 and planning improvements for the new year, consider all the opportunities you have in your own back yard.
The New River Valley offers all kinds of activities to help you get fit, have fun and enjoy the time you have with your family.
When you're putting up that new calendar, start thinking about the outings you're not going to miss in '95. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Take a hike! The Cascades in Giles County is one of the prettiest sights around, no matter what the season. The round-trip hike to the waterfall and back is 4 miles, and you have a choice of two trails. One runs alongside a stream and is rough and rocky (the kind of trail older kids love!) while the other is a bit easier but rises high above the stream in several places.
Teach kids about preparing for a hike by packing a pack with basic necessities for survival. And don't forget the food - it's a treat to have a picnic at the top of the mountain or in the designated areas at the base.
To get to the Cascades from Blacksburg, take U.S. 460 north to Pembroke. About a mile past Pembroke, turn right onto Virginia 623 to Cascades Park.
Be playful! Discover all the fun parks and playgrounds around the area.
Bisset Park is Radford is a 58-acre municipal park right on the New River. The park has plenty of playground space and a nice walking trail.
The most popular place to play in Blacksburg is the Hand-in-Hand Playground between the Blacksburg Recreation Center and Caboose Park. It was built solely by volunteers (with lots of input from little helpers) in 1992.
Blacksburg's Nellies Cave Park has a big playing field where kids can run, as well as sturdy playground equipment. It's one of the newer parks in the area, too.
When you're looking for some peace and quiet, head for Pandapas Pond. A leisurely walk around the lake or a stroll through the woods will help you tune into the sights and sounds of nature.
Keep your eyes peeled for signs of beaver activities. You'll see lots of them, especially if you take the trail to the right, away from the pond, and follow it downstream to the site of the old beaver dam.
To get to Pandapas Pond from Blacksburg, take the U.S. 460 bypass west to the first road on the left past Virginia 621. So you don't go past it, look for the telephone booth on the left side of the highway. That's where you want to get off.
Everyone can learn something at Virginia Tech. If the little ones have never had first-hand experience on the farm, they'll get a kick out of visiting the various farmyards with the horses, sheep, chickens, turkeys and cows.
Tech's dairy farm has calves, bulls and milk cows. The milking is done around 1 p.m. each day.
The university offers tour guides for groups. To arrange them, call the special events planning office at 231-5005.
Dressing up isn't hard if you know where to look.
Kids may enjoy visiting local thrift stores for items they can use to play dress up. The YMCA Thrift Shop in Blacksburg has a terrific costume room with lots of hats. The store also has used toys and books.
Hit the Salvation Army stores in Christiansburg and Pulaski, too. You can find clothing, shoes, jewelry and household items at very cheap prices. The whole family will have fun creating "junk sculptures" or repairing items that need a little work.
by CNB